NFL Survivor Pools Strategy Advice and Predictions: Week 12

This is going to be the last week of the season that we take a look at
survivor pools. And it has gotten to the point where it is very tough for
people who are still alive to come up with a pick that works. It wouldn't
be that way, of course, if you could pick any team you wanted. But since we
can only pick any given team once during the season, we have some real
challenges. There are four teams this week that feel like virtual locks -
or as close to that as we get in the league these days. Pittsburgh is going
to beat Brett Hundley and the Packers. Philadelphia will beat up on the
Bears. Jay Cutler and his Dolphins will be no match for the Patriots. And
Seattle should beat San Francisco - though that result isn't as confident
as the first three. Frankly, though, if you are still able to pick any of
those teams at this point in your survivor pool then you are doing it
wrong. So, we are left to pick games that aren't nearly as straightforward.
We have to gamble, in other words - likely at a point when you are close to
winning it all in your pool. Here, then, are the spots that could be worth
gambling on. Good luck!

Washington vs. New York Giants:
The Giants beat the Chiefs last week. It's not as impressive as it sounds,
though - Kansas City is self-destructing, it was only an overtime win, and
the offense was still underwhelming. I don't have any issues discounting
the performance. Washington, on the other hand, gets much more respect even
though they lost last week. They only fell in overtime to a red-hot New
Orleans team. Washington scored at least a touchdown in each quarter, Kirk
Cousins was strong, they ran the ball effectively, and were generally
solid. Washington is only 4-6, but they are better than they would expect a
team with that record to be. New York is every bit as good as you would
expect a 2-8 team to be. The Redskins probably don't have any postseason
future or anything to play for left, but they haven't given up yet, and
they have been more competent in almost any way than their opponent here.
The Giants have not yet won a game against an NFC opponent - and they have
had seven tries to do so. They aren't going to change that now, and that
makes Washington a comfortable pick - and a team that you probably haven't
found a reason to pick up to this point. Safe AND available - just what you
are looking for at this point in the season.

Baltimore vs. Houston:
Houston won last week, but it was only against an Arizona team that seems
to be entirely without a clue, so it only barely counts. Before that they
had lost three straight. The thing their performances have in common lately
is the totally useless QB play from Tom Savage. He is just not an NFL
quarterback, and his team knows it. Baltimore isn't exactly getting great
quarterbacking this year, either, but their defense is really strong right
now, and it has them in an unlikely playoff position at this point. Houston
has not been good on the road, and they are going to struggle to score
against this defense. I'd prefer Washington if available, but at this point
in the season you could do worse than Baltimore, too.

Jacksonville at Arizona:
It wasn't too long ago that Arizona had a genius coach and was a dangerous,
overachieving team that people liked. Now they are just sad. They look old.
They look disinterested. They look confused. They don't have a viable
quarterback situation right now. They just look like a team that is
desperate for the offseason. And it's going to be a rough offseason, too -
they are going to make a lot of changes, and all the players know it.
Jacksonville has allowed the fewest points in the league - a full field
goal per game less than anyone else. They have won four straight and are
feeling very confident. They have issues with injuries, but they still have
enough going on to win this game. Blaine Gabbert is not going to be able to
score against this Jacksonville defense, and that will make all the
difference. Jacksonville is my favorite pick on the board this week.

Free Play from Doc's Sports.
Take #231 Minnesota Golden
Gophers +6.5 over Georgia
Tech Yellow Jackets
(5:15p.m., Wednesday,
December 26) The Paul Johnson
era will come to an end after
this game and I do not think
he will go out with a blowout
victory. Generally team can
fare well against the option
when they have a month to
prepare for it and that will
be the case with the Golden
Gophers. Minnesota is coming
off their best game of the
season last time out beating
Wisconsin and getting back
the ax for the first time in
well over a decade. Minnesota
has covered 5 straight
nonconference games. Georgia
Tech is 1-4 ATS in their last
5 nonconference games. Take
the points in this game. Do
not miss out on Doc's Sports
Weekend card featuring picks
in basketball, hockey, &
football. Bowl Game of the
Year is coming in late
December and now is the time
to jump on board and let Doc
close out this holiday season
with a bang.Read MoreRead Less

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